Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALDIPWEQ’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALDIPWEQ’, particularly characterized by white flowers with a white-yellow lip with purple stripes, 2 peduncles, inflorescence that is long and sturdy, narrow and oblong shaped leaves, and propagated by tissue culture is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis Blume.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALDIPWEQ’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceaefamily, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘PHALDIPWEQ’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 60 species of herbaceousperennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable forcultivar in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantlyepiphytic or rock dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the MalayArchipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy,oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodialgrowth), which vary in size from 12 to 20 cm to over 60 cm. The leavesmay be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in thehorticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for theflorist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home orinteriorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendant lateral racemes or panicle,often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning withthe lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; thelateral ones being alike. The lowermost petals, called the labellum, isthree-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flowersegments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow,and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexualpropagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which arisefrom the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants aredetached from the mother plants and may be planted in a suitablesubstrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALDIPWEQ’ is particularly characterized by itsattractive and unique white flowers, economical propagation by tissueculture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging andshipping to the market.

‘PHALDIPWEQ’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted inBleiswijk, The Netherlands.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALDIPWEQ’ originated from a cross made inNovember 2004 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The female parent is awhite Phalaenopsis pot plant named ‘01-1638’ (unpatented), while themale parent is a white Phalaenopsis pot plant named ‘16352-0005’(unpatented). A single plant was selected in January 2008 and has beenasexually reproduced repeatedly by tissue culture in Bleiswijk, TheNetherlands over a 2-year period. The new variety has been found toretain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexualpropagations.

Asexual reproduction of ‘PHALDIPWEQ’ by tissue culture was firstperformed in December 2011 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar is firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europeon Sep. 20, 2013. ‘PHALDIPWEQ’ has not been made publicly available orsold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing dateof this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

-   -   1) White flowers with white-yellow lip with purple stripes;    -   2) 2 peduncles;    -   3) Inflorescence is long and sturdy;    -   4) The shape of the leaf is narrow and oblong; and    -   5) Plants are propagated by tissue culture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, budsand foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Thephotographs are of a 50-week old plant grown in a greenhouse inBleiswijk, The Netherlands in February 2014.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds and foliageof ‘PHALDIPWEQ’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the flower of ‘PHALDIPWEQ’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALDIPWEQ’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘PHALDIPWEQ’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inBleiswijk, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 50-week oldplants which were planted from tissue culture in 12 centimeter pots andgrown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks, continuedby a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks ina greenhouse of 21° C. Observations were made in February 2014. Colorreadings were taken under 4-6000 lux natural light in the greenhouse.Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.        -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis Blume.        -   Common name.—Phalaenopsis.        -   Variety name.—‘PHALDIPWEQ’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-1638’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘16352-0005’            (unpatented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Tissue culture.-   Plant:    -   -   Crop time (time to produce a finished flowering plant).—48            to 50 weeks for a 12 cm pot.        -   Growth habit of inflorescence.—Standard, green leaves and            raceme to panicle.        -   Height (including pot, including inflorescence).—60.0 cm to            70.0 cm.        -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—40.0 cm to 45.0 cm.        -   Vigor.—Strong to moderate.-   Roots:    -   -   Root description.—Grey-green-colored roots with light            branching lateral roots having grey-green-brown-colored root            tips.-   Leaves:    -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 7 to 9 leaves are            produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 20.0 cm            to 25.0 cm. Width: 7.5 cm to 8.5 cm. Shape: Narrow oblong.            Apex: Mucronate unequal. Leaf blade angle with the petiole:            Between 10 degrees and 25 degrees. Leaf margin: Entire.            Color: Upper surface: RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS 146A.            Texture: Smooth. Thickness: 2.6 mm. Venation: Pattern:            Parallel. Color of the midvein: Upper surface: RHS 146A.            Lower surface: RHS 146A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—2.        -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—7 to 10.        -   Length.—44.0 cm to 54.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—6.5 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong to moderate.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Green to brown (RHS 146A and 183A).        -   Internode length.—40.0 mm to 50.0 mm.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, raceme to light            panicle inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers            that open in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 200.0 mm to            300.0 mm. Diameter: 4.0 mm to 4.4 mm.        -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11            months after planting in a 12 cm pot.        -   Flower.—Height: 100.0 mm to 110.0 mm. Diameter: 110.0 mm to            120.0 mm. Depth of lip: 29.0 mm to 31.0 mm.        -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 14 to 17 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:            Mucronate and symmetric. Margin: Entire. Length (from base            to tip): 54.0 mm to 56.0 mm. Width: 64.0 mm to 66.0 mm.            Color (when fully opened): Main color: White (RHS 155C). At            the base: White (RHS 155C).        -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Entire. Length (from            base to tip): 54.0 mm to 56.0 mm. Width: 39.0 mm to 41.0 mm.            Color (when fully opened): Main color: White (RHS 155C). At            the base: White (RHS 155C).        -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Margin: Entire. Length (from            base to tip): 54.0 mm to 56.0 mm. Width: 34.0 mm to 36.0 mm.            Color (when fully opened): Main color: White (RHS 155C). At            the base: White (RHS 155C).        -   Labellum (lip).—Margin: Undulation. Length: 19.0 mm to            21.0 mm. Width: 22.0 mm to 24.0 mm.        -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: type V. Color: White, yellow shaded            with purple stripes (RHS 155C, 7A and 183D).        -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Obdeltoid. Color: White, yellow shaded            (RHS 155C, 7A and 165C).        -   Callus.—Color: Yellow spotted (RHS 17B and 174A).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a            single, short structure called the column, possessing one            terminal anther with pollen grains united into pollinia,            which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located            under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior            with three carpels present.        -   Column.—Length: 11.0 mm to 12.0 mm. Diameter: 6.0 mm to            7.0 mm. Color: White (RHS 155C).        -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Size: 1.6 mm to 1.7 mm. Color: Orange            (RHS 25A).        -   Ovary.—Length: 7.0 mm to 8.0 mm. Diameter: 5.5 mm to 6.5 mm.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 50.0 mm to 60.0 mm. Diameter: 4.0 mm to 5.0            mm.-   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of 15° C. and a    high temperature about 30° C.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘PHALDIPWEQ’ differs from male parent ‘16352-0005’ (unpatented) in that‘PHALDIPWEQ’ has a green to brown peduncle and an elliptic shaped dorsalsepal, whereas ‘16352-0005’ has a dark brown peduncle and an obovateshaped dorsal sepal. Additionally, ‘PHALDIPWEQ’ has a smaller plant sizethan ‘16352-0005’.

‘PHALDIPWEQ’ differs from commercial variety ‘PHALZIFY’ (unpatented) inthat ‘PHALDIPWEQ’ has a lip with an undulating margin and a narrowoblong leaf shape, whereas ‘PHALZIFY’ has a lip with a smooth margin andan obovate leaf shape. Additionally, ‘PHALDIPWEQ’ has bigger flowersthan ‘PHALZIFY’.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named‘PHALDIPWEQ’ as shown and described herein.